Core Viewpoint - The United States is leading the formation of a rare earth alliance to weaken China's dominant position in the global rare earth supply, but it appears to overestimate its influence and appeal [1] Group 1: U.S. and Allies' Efforts - U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen is rallying G7, EU, Australia, India, and South Korea to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth minerals, with some countries responding positively, such as Japan [1] - Japan's Finance Minister openly supports the U.S. initiative, indicating a consensus among many nations, while Germany's Finance Minister expresses a different view, stating that the initiative is not aimed at decoupling from China [1][3] - The urgency from the U.S. and Japan is evident, but they struggle to present feasible solutions for reducing reliance on China [1][3] Group 2: Diverging Interests Among Allies - The rare earth alliance faces significant divisions, as countries have differing economic interests and ties with China, making complete decoupling unrealistic [5] - Germany, as Europe's economic engine, has strong connections with China in key industries, leading to a cautious approach towards U.S. calls for decoupling [5] - Australia and South Korea also have deep resource supply ties with China, making their participation in the U.S.-led alliance more about diplomatic gestures than substantial commitments [7] Group 3: China's Competitive Advantage - China has developed a complete rare earth industry chain over decades, achieving scale, cost advantages, and mature technology that other countries cannot replicate in the short term [8] - China's stance is clear: it will use rare earths as a countermeasure if its legitimate rights are harmed, while welcoming cooperation as long as international rules are followed [8] - The reconstruction of the rare earth industry is a complex process requiring significant investment, time, and market adaptation, which the U.S. and its allies are currently not prepared to undertake [8]
美国组建稀土联盟减少对华依赖,德国表态:不是针对中国
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-15 11:48